Death Penalty in the United States: Current Landscape and Scheduled Executions

As of 2025, the United States is witnessing a notable continuation of capital punishment, with fifteen executions already carried out and twelve more scheduled in the coming months. The Death Penalty Information Center reports that eight states are actively planning executions for the remainder of the year, highlighting the complex and often contentious nature of the death penalty in the country.

Scheduled Executions: A State-by-State Breakdown

Florida

Florida stands at the forefront with several high-profile executions on the horizon. The next scheduled execution will occur on Thursday when Glen Rogers, aged 62, faces lethal injection. Convicted for the 1995 stabbing death of Tina Marie Cribbs, Rogers has boasted about committing multiple murders across the country. There’s additional anticipation surrounding Anthony Wainwright, set to die on June 10 for the 1994 kidnapping, rape, and murder of Carmen Gayheart.

Texas

Texas remains a steadfast state in its use of the death penalty. Matthew Johnson’s execution is set for Tuesday; he was convicted in 2012 for the murder of a woman he attacked in a gas station, setting her on fire after a robbery. This heinous crime underscores the brutal nature of some offenses leading to capital punishment.

Indiana

Indiana will execute Benjamin Ritchie on the same day as Johnson. Ritchie was convicted of murdering Beech Grove Police Officer Bill Toney during a police chase in September 2000. Ritchie’s case has drawn attention due to challenges about his representation, where he claims his attorney failed to investigate critical factors regarding his mental health.

Tennessee

In Tennessee, three inmates have had execution dates set by the state’s Supreme Court. Oscar Smith, 75, is scheduled for execution on May 22 after being convicted of killing his estranged wife and her two sons. Notably, Smith narrowly avoided execution in 2022 due to procedural issues around the lethal injection protocols. The inconsistencies in testing the drugs used for executions have raised ethical concerns in the state.

Another inmate, Byron Black, who was convicted of murdering his girlfriend and her daughters, is set for execution on August 5. Harold Nichols, convicted for a brutal rape and murder in 1988, is on the list for December.

Alabama

Alabama’s approach to executions has taken a significant turn with the introduction of nitrogen gas as a method of execution. Gregory Hunt is scheduled to die on June 10 for the beating murder of Karen Lane in 1988. Alabama has now carried out executions using nitrogen gas in five cases, most recently becoming the first state to adopt this controversial method.

Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, the execution of John Fitzgerald Hanson, 61, is planned for June 12. Convicted for the murder of a woman in 1999, Hanson has faced clemency denials aimed at prolonging his life, adding to the ongoing debate about the fairness and humanity of the death penalty.

Mississippi

Mississippi’s longest-serving death row inmate, Richard Gerald Jordan, is scheduled for execution on June 25. At 78 years old, Jordan has been fighting his death sentence since 1976 for the kidnapping and murder of a woman. His case illustrates the long legal battles many inmates endure as they seek to overturn their sentences.

Ohio

Ohio’s death penalty landscape has seen Republican Governor Mike DeWine consistently delay executions, including those scheduled for Timothy Coleman and Kareem Jackson later this year. Governor DeWine’s public stance against any further executions during his governance, which extends to 2026, has created a unique situation in a state that has faced significant scrutiny regarding its execution methods.

Broader Context

The persistent use of capital punishment in the United States calls into question the ethical implications and effectiveness of this form of justice. With active debates surrounding disparities in sentencing, the mental health of inmates, and procedural justice, the landscape of the death penalty continues to evolve.

As this critical issue unfolds, the narratives of those affected—both by execution and those committing the crimes—underline the complexity and humanity inherent in the discussion surrounding capital punishment.